Rodney Frelinghuysen has surfaced. And it’s to help Aura Dunn, his former aide, win a state Assembly seat. Frelinghuysen, who has been near invisible on the Morris County political scene since his departure from Congress in January, sent out a letter dated Nov. 14 endorsing Dunn to replace Anthony M. Bucco in the District 25 seat.

Dunn is one of six candidates vying for the seat at a GOP convention Thursday night in Randolph.

In his letter, Frelinghuysen praises Dunn for a great grasp of issues, her conservative philosophy and even her sense of humor.

He also says that Dunn has more than “paid her dues” in regard to loyalty and work for the Republican Party. High praise indeed.

On one hand, it’s no surprise that Frelinghuysen is backing a former staffer of his. Yet on the other hand, it is noteworthy that Frelinghuysen is making a public statement after months of lying low.

We will find out in a few days how much weight the wishes of the former congressman with the iconic political name carries.

Frelinghuysen once represented the 25th District in the Assembly. But due to redistributing, his hometown of Harding is no longer in the district.